April 26^th/64

           

Well Brother (Sol) I have concluded to answer your kind letter that I recived som time ago. I was to glad to have a letter from you I all ways am glad to get any word from eny of the Boys we all have great anxiety for your well far I have nothing of intrest to write you. we had a letter from Irby dated 14^{th inst} and Louis recived one from Jane yesturday dated 15^th stateing that you was all well it is a very cold backward spring the trees is almost as dead as in winter the apple trees is a very little green but not in bloom. yesturday was the first day that seem like spring but this morning it is raining and and is quite cold this 11 oclock we have fifteen acres corn planted it has bin so wet and cold I think we will have to plant it over I hope that we wont thare is very little corn planted yet wheat look very poor my wheat has almost all froze out the spring has bin very dry untill lately old wheat is coming up in price it is worth $1.50 corn 75 oats 75 hay $25 a ton flour $8 a barrel horses from $150 to $200 coffee 50 to 55 cts a lb sugar 20 to 25 cts a lb beef 8 to 10 cts uncle Tomma Harris was offered at S^t Louis for two steers $235 but he would not take it he was offered $18 a piece in gold for them that shoes the diference betwen gold and Greenbacks Joel & Bill friend have jest caught 3 fox squarrels 2 young one and one old one they have got them in the cage. I was up to Bunkerhill last thursday night and stayed all night with the 2 mollies they are fat and ugley I was also at Gillespie, Nancy Moore is teaching school 2 miles north she is well and not marraid jest waiting for a chance to suit her Nancy has bin teaching school 3 miles below Edwardsville she taught 10 weeks and made 42 dollars clear money that is more per month then you get for fighting Rebs. I dont no what to write to you that will interest you if I was a young man prehaps I could write something that would [?] I can onley tell you that the girles is all well and looks sweet espetially tip and Jane you now that all the girles likes to have beans tip and Bill is not marraid yet one is afraid and the other is coward and allso the same of Jane and Jim Uncle Joe and Aunt Dolly has bin down to clinton C^o to see gran ma Williams she is coming up to Sheffers to live. I saw your paw & maw yesturday in alton they are all well was going to send money to bring press Saps girl down. I was glad to think that you had a good time while you was out here. the oldest Bacon girl is marrade She marrade a dutchman I dont no his name Stephen Short is quite sick but a little better to day. Mrs Whitson Packer is dead you no they lived in Mo. Sam Williams wife has bin very sick but is getting well agan. we are all well as common I am not very well I am now taking medicins for my lungs my lung has bin bleeding at times for 3 weeks I feeld better to day Martha kotched a bean the other night I will have to write an other sheet

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